Fiji's opposition leader says public service reform only recycling

Fiji's opposition leader, Mick Beddoes, says the structural reform of the public service has turned into a recycling effort with the same people getting the same jobs.

He says the Public Service Commission announced that many high calibre private sector people had applied for the 23 chief executive positions but to date, none of them have been appointed.

Mr Beddoes says he understands that the public service commission actually approached people in the civil service who hadn't even applied for the jobs.

"It raises a lot of questions. My view is that these are the same people who have been in the civil service, in charge of the civil service collectively over the past years. And, we have been complaining about its inability to provide adequate service standards and efficient services to the people. So, we're going to expect much of the same except, of course, that it's going to cost a lot more."

Mr Beddoes says new blood is needed.

The chairman of the Public Service Commission, Sakeasi Waqanivavalagi, was not available for comment but it's been reported that 13 permanent secretaries have been offered jobs as CEOs.